jarve



Feb. 19 11924.

P. A. JKRVE MAIL MARKING momma 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Filed Dec. '2. 1921 imam-tall Feb. 19 1924., 1,484,375

' P. A. JARVE MAIL MARKING MACHINE Filed Dec. '7, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W M1: E13 5 o e Jo Patented Feb. 19, 1924.

u NITED sr r s r-m'rsur r rice.

PAUL-ANDREAS JARVE, 0F KBYLBO, SWEDEN.

MAIL-MABKING MACHINE.

Application filcdDecemb'er 7', 1921. Serial Ho. 520,680.

ments in lifail-lkiarking Machines, of which the following: is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for marking or stamp-cancelling letters, postcards and the like of that type, which are provided with av feed roller for transmitting the letters, etc, from a. stacking place or a magazine to. a roller marking the letters, etc., and. co-operating with a second roller (presser roller) The main object of the invention is to simplify and improve the feed device of the said machines, which. iseffectedby providing on. the stacking place or in the magazine a support or the like, which by a spring or the like is held in a starting or normal position and, when a setof letters, located on the same is subjected to pressure either manually or by mechanism adapted therefor, yields and by means of an. electric contact device effectsthe closing of a circuit of an electric motor, adapted to rotate the feed: roller and presser roller, so that the said rollers automatically are put into rotary motion and in combination with special letter separating devices effect the feeding and marking of the letters, etc, until the said pressure on the set of letters is interrupted or all letters have passed between the rollers and have been thrown into a receptacle or the like.

The said letter separating devices are so constructed, that practically no letters can pass through the machine without being marked, even if the machine operates at a great velocity.

The; invention also comprises certain details more closely described in connection with'the description of the form of execution: of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side view, partially a longitudi-.

are slid, which are in screwthreaded engagement with the frame, of an electric motor 4. Helical springs 5, slid on-the said set screws and located between, the said bottom wall and the frame of the motor tend to hold the motor in the position shown in Fig: 1. By rotating the set screws 3 the distance of the motor from the bottom wall may beadjusted as required. The top part 2 is provided with brackets 6 (only one shown in the drawings)v extending, downwards, and provided. with bearings 7 for two rotatable shafts 8. One of the said shafts carries a feed-roller 9, while the other shaft carries a presser roller 10 co-operat'i'ng with a marking roller, more closely described in: the following specification. The peripherical surface of the said roller 9 is covered. with india rubber or similar material. The presser roller 10 is provided on its periphericalsurface with. a flange 10. of the same: material. The said rollers 9 and 10, which are located at some distance from one another, bear against a friction roller 11 fixed to theshaft of the motor, so that both the rollers are rotated by the roller 11 in the same direction and at substantially the same speed. Owing to the method in which the motor is mounted, the friction roller 11 will, evidently, be yieldingly forced against the rollers .9 and 10, so that. the latter are rotated in a reliable manner, and besides the pressure between the friction roller 11 and the rollers 9'and 10 may be adjusted, which is of great importance for maintainingthe accuracy in the running of the machine, after the parts have been worn, Rollers 9 and 10 extend upwardly through openings provided in the top part 2.

From the; toppart 2 a support projects downwardly, to which is pivoted zit-12 a bell crank. lever. One arm. 13 of the said lever extends upwardly through an opening pro vided in the top part 2. The other arm I l of the leveris provided with a switch knife 15 of a nonconducting material and adapted toco-operate with two yielding contact pieces 16, 16, F'igspl and 3, fixed. in any suitable manner to an upright 17 on the bottom wall of the frame. A spring 18 fixed to, one of the. side walls of the frame. 1 tends to move the lever 13, 14 into such position, that the knife 15 enters. between the contact pieces 16 and forces the same fromroneanother, sothat a circuit including the contact pieces 16, 16,

wires 27 and the motor is broken. A second spring 19 is fixed to the said side wall and co-operates with a pin or projection 20 provided on the lever arm 14 for securing the lever 13, 14 in its end positions.

The top part 2 is provided with two arms 21, Figs. 1 and 2, extending upwardly in an oblique direction and carrying a shaft or rod 22. On the said rod 22 arms 23 only one shown in the drawings) are swingably mounted, which at their free, ends carry a marking roller 24, which is mounted in a rotatable and detachable manner. ,toller 24 may be of any known or suitable construction and for that'reason is not more closely described. The said arms are firmly connected with one another and acted upon by a helical spring 28, Fig. 4, slid on the shaft 22 and tendingto force the marking roller toward the presser roller 10. The marking roller 24 is provided with V a flange 24 extending round the same and bearing against the flange 10* of the presser roller 10, Fig. 6, so that no ink is transmittcdfrom the marking roller to the presser roller. The marking roller and the presser roller are mounted in respect of the feed roller 9, that the flanges 10 and 24 are located substantially on a line with the path of the letters, etc, passing over the feed roller 9, i. e. in the same vertical plane as the feed roller, so that the letters, etc, are moved through the machine along a straight line. To one of the arms 21 an abutment 29 for one of the arms 23 is fixed in an adjustable manner, so that the pressure between the marking roller and the presser roller may be adjusted.

Above the marking roller 24 an inking roller 30 of known type is provided, the shaft of which is journaled in a cap 31 or the like, carried by an arm 32, which is swingably mounted on the shaft or red 22. The said arm is acted upon by a helical spring 33, slid on the rod 22 and tending to move the arm 32 in'su h direction, that the inking roller 30 is held in contact with the marking roller 24, Figs. 1 and 4.

To one the arms 21 a plate 34 is fixed in any suitable manner, the said plate being substantially perpendicular to the top part 2 and the letter-path. The lower edge oi the said plate 34 is located at some distance from the top part 2. A second plate 36 is provided on the top part 2, which plate 36 'is adjustable in guides 35 and is parallel to the latter-path and perpendicular to the plate so that there is a rectangular corner formed by the plates 34 and 36. The said plate 36 is adjustable toward and from the lever arm 13. At the side of the plate- 34 facing the marking roller a slide 3? is provided, which is. movable in suitable guides and at its lower part, located near the top part 2, carries an adjustable roller 38 and a plate 39 of india rubber or the like. A spring 40 tends to move the said slide toward the top part, the movement being limited by an abutment, for instance a set screw 41. The peripherical surface of the roller 38 joins the lower edge of the plate 34 and forms a continuation of the same, the said edge being preferably bent in a slight degree towards the roller- 38. The plate 39 extends forwards toward the presser roller 10. 38 in a yieldable manner against a projection provided on the top part 2 and consisting for instance of a convex spring'y plate 44 of sheet metal, while the plate 39 is forced against the presser roller 10 in a yieldable n'ianner. The parts 34, 33, 32) and 44 form together a letter separatingdevice the mode of operation. of which will be described bclow.

1n the vicinity of the rear side ofthe frame, supports 43, 43 are provided,which together with the arm 13 carry the set of letters A located in the corner formed by the plates 34 and 36.

A receptacle 45, open at one of its sides, is connected with the frame of the machine in a detachable manner. The marked let ters, etc, are gathered inthe said receptacle 45. The bottom wall of the receptacle 45 is located some distance above the table or the like, on which the machine stands, so that the operator can put the fingers of his one hand under the said bottom and through openings provided in the same grasp the collection oitletters gathered in the receptacle. In the top part of the receptacle 45 a recess 45 preferably is provided, so that the operator may force the thumb against the top side of the set of letters to be withdrawn "from the receptacle. In order that the letters, etc., thrown by the machine into the receptacle 45 in'immediate succession and at a great velocity, may be put in proper order, the top part of the receptacle 45 is curve shaped, as shownin Fig. 1, the inner side of the said part being near the bottom preferably covered with cloth or the like in order to prevent the letters from recoiling. The rear Vertical wall of the receptacle 45, preferably, has an oblique positioniu the motion direction 01 the lcttors, as shown in Fig. 2, in order that'the letters in a more reliable manner may be put in the proper order in the receptacle.

Spring 40 forces the roller For the starting of the motor the arm 13 letters which is placed in the corner formed by the plates 34 and 36. Owing to the fact The said pressuremay of the bell crank lever 13, 14 must be sub- 7 that the marking operation generally must be effected by the machine very" rapidly (about 1000 letters per'minute'), the machine preferably is so arranged, that both the hands of the operator are free for placing new letters in the machine and removing marked letters from the same. Forthe said purpose the machine is provided with. an automatically operating mechanism, effecting the said pressure on the set of letters. In the drawings the said mechanism, shown in Fig. 7, consists of a vertical rod47 which is movable in a guide 46 provided on the frame of the machine. To the lower end of i the said rod a weight 48 or spring is fixed.

The top end of the rod 46 is provided with a guide 4C9 vtor a slidable rod or arm 50, perpendicular to the rod 47 The said rod 50 extends through an opening 50*, Fig. 1, provided in the plate 36, so that it i'slo'cated above the stackingpl'ace. A helical. spring 51 is fixed to the outer end of the rod 50 and the rod 47 and tends to move the rod 50 into such position, that its inner endis located substantially right above the feed roller. From the inner end of the rod 50 an 52 extends upwardly, said arm forming an abutment. In this case the plate 36, preferably, has a slanting position in respect of the top part 2, see Fig. 7. As a set of letters should be placed in the machine, the rod 50 is pushed toward the left, Fig. 7, against the action of the spring 51. After the .rod 50 together with the rod 47 has been raised to a suitable level, it isv permitted to return to its initial position. The" rod 50 then subjects the stack or set of letters mounted in the stacking-place to a pressure, so that the machine is started- \Vhen, for instance, half the amount of letters has been fed from the stack, a new set of letters is placed at the side of the arm 52 and moved inward to the position above the stacking place, while the arm 52 together with the rod 50 is pushed toward. the left. The presser mechanism is then raised and the rod 50 permitted to re turn to its operating position.

The machine operates in the following manner: After a set of letters has been placed on the top part 2, above the feed roller 9 and bearing against the lever arm 13, and into such position, that two edges of the letters bear against the plates 34 and. 36, the plate 36 is so adjusted, that the stamps of the letters are located in substantially the same vertical plane asthe marking roller 34 and the presser roller 10, i. e. in such position, that the letters are properly marked. By then subjecting the set of letters to a pressure in the described manner, either manually or mechanically,- the lever arm 13 is forced downward, which results in the lever arm '14 being swung toward the left, i 1. and withdrawn from the Contact pieces 16, 16 against the action of the spring 18: The'contact pieces are thus brought into contact with one another, which results in the closing'of the circuit of the motor 4 and the starting of the same. Roller 11 transmits motion to rollers 9 and 10, which arethus rotated in the direction indicated by't-he arrows in Fig. 1. Thefeed roller now engages the'lowermost letter of the set-,so that the said letter together with one ortwo ot the next superposed letters are moved forwardly toward the roller 38. The roller 38' as well as the plate 44 yield, so that the lowermost letter can pass under the: said roller. Before the lowermost letter has passed under the roller 38 for itswhole length, the next bottom letter is engaged by the feed roller 9, so that the letters will partially overlap one another. Owing to'the manner, however, in which the roller 38 and the plate 44 co-operate, the letters will'be separated from one another in a. reliable manner, even it the velocity of the machine is very great and the shape and thickness of the letters vary Vwithin comparatively wide limits. The plate 39 constitutes a safety device, which separates those letters, which hay e not previously been separated from one another. Besides, the plate 39 prevents the letters from being bent upwards towardthe marking roller, owing. to the fact that the plate causes the letters to bear against the presser roller 10. ,VVhile the let ters pass between the presser roller and the marking roller 24, the latter marks the same in known manner. The letters are thrown by the rollers 10 and 24 into the receptacle 4-5, during which" operation the front edge of the letters strike the curveshaped top part of the receptacle, while their one sideedge slides along the side wall of the receptacle, having an oblique position relatively to the path of the letters.

As the pressure on the set of letter ceases or when all letters have'be'en fed through the machine, the bell crank lever 13, 14 is returned to its initial position by the spring 18, the knife being thus forced between the contact pieces16, 16, so that the circuit of the motor is broken and the motor and the rollers automatically are brought to a standstill.

The said automatical starting and stop ping of the motor, evidently, is a great advantage of the present machine. The manners,.in which the letters are separated from each other and guided while fed throughthe machine, ensure a reliable marking. of the letters, so that practically no unmarked letter will leave'the machine. The means provided for the said purpose may easily be. controlled and adjusted and exchanged; The; mannen inwhich motion is transmitted to the rollers renders the use of toothed wheels. and similar motion transmitting means superfluous, the construction of the.

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machine as a whole being thereby simplified. The cost of manufacture may thus be comparatively small, which, evidently, is an advantage, as the present machine thereby may be used also in small post-offices. No special stand must be'used but the ma chine may bemounted directly on an ordinary table, on which it takes up but little space. V

The stacked letters are subjected by the automatically acting pressing device to a uniform and suitably adapted pressure, and, besides, the managing of the machine is greatly facilitated by the said device, as already stated. 7

The'invention may, evidently, be modified in many respects without exceeding the limits of the same.

I claim:

l. A machine for marking letters and the like including 'a prime mover, a feeding roller and a presser roller driven by the prime mover, a marking roller cooperating with the presser roller for marking letters passing between thesame, a. magazine for holding'a stack of letters in such position that the feeding rollers will feed said letters,

and means for controlling the starting and stopping of the prime mover provided with a member extending into the magazine and adapted to be depressed by the letters in the magazine for controlling the starting of the prime mover.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the prime mover consists of an electric motor and the means for controlling the starting and stopping of the prime mover includes a bell crank lever, one arm of which forms the member projecting into the magazine, the other arm of the 'bell crank lever having a separating member of insulating material, a switch for controlling the electric circuit of the motor arranged to be thrown into open position by said separating member, and means for yieldingly forcing said separating member towardssai'd switch.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the prime mover is mounted on resilient supports adapted to force the prime mover toward the feeding and presser rollers;

t. A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the magazine includes, a plate located in the path of movement of the letters from the magazine to the-marking roller, a curve shaped resilient plate arranged between the feeding and} presser rollers, a vertically movable member arranged on the first mentioned plate, means for yield ingly forcing said vertically movable member toward said curved shaped plate, and an elastic stop carried by the vertically movable member and abutting against the presser roller for separating superposed letters before they reach the marking roller.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the magazine includes an adjustable wall adapted to' be moved toward and away from avertical plane passing through the marking roller so that letters placed in the magazine may be arranged in proper position to be stamped by the marking roller.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 1 including'a pressing device cooperating with said magazine and adapted to force the letters in the magazine downwardly.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 1'in-' cluding a presser device cooperating with said magazine for forcing letters in the latter downwardly, said device including a slidable rod provided with means for automatically shifting the same in one direction,

a bar arranged perpendicularly to said rod,

slidably mounted on said rod and projecting into said magazine, a spring for'moving said bar toward the magazine and yieldingly holding the bar in a normal position, and an abutment carried by said bar.

S. A letter cancelling machine including a frame, a resilient support arranged in the frame, an electric: motor. carried by said support and provided with a driving roller, a feeding roller and a pressing roller mounted in the frameand rotatable about fixed axes, said driving roller engaging the feeding roller and presser roller in order to drive said rollers, a cover for said frame provided with apertures to permit the peripheries of the feeding and pressing roll ers to project above the cover, a rocking shaft arranged above said cover, links mounted on the rocking shaft, a marking roller carried by said links and engaging the presser roller, means for yieldingly urging said marking roller toward the pressing roller, a magazine adapted to contain the letters to be marked and arranged in such position that the feeding roller may engage the letters for feeding the same from the magazine and letter separating means arranged between the feeding and presser rollersfor separating letters fed to the marking roller. 7 r

9. A machine as claimed in claim 8 including means forcontrolling the starting and stopping efsai'd motor provided with a member projecting into said magazine to permit the letters in the magazine .to

actuate said memberand cause starting of PAUL ANDREAS Jitnlvn.

Witnesses Inez HowsoN, ROBERT APELGREN.

whereof I have aifixed my.

lit) 

